MARIE RAISON FROM DAGENHAM SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND PRISON ATTACKS

In May 2018, Marie Raison, a 29-year-old woman from Chadwell Heath, East London, and known to have connections to Dagenham, was sentenced to two years in prison after breaching a sexual harm prevention order and failing to comply with her registration as a sex offender. Her criminal history is extensive, involving disturbing offenses that span several years and include both online and offline abuse of children.

Raison’s criminal activities first came to light in 2014 when she was convicted of sending explicit images depicting her touching a five-year-old girl and a nine-month-old infant to Paul Dent, a convicted child abuser aged 33. Dent was sentenced to seven years for his role in encouraging her to commit these acts. Raison, at that time, was a nursery nurse and a former school cleaner, and her actions shocked the public and authorities alike. She was sentenced to six years but was released in October 2016 after serving half her term. Despite her release, she failed to disclose her conviction when applying for a sales representative position, which was a breach of her legal obligations.

Her subsequent conduct demonstrated a continued disregard for the restrictions placed upon her. Last summer, she visited a male colleague’s home in South London to watch boxing and offered to babysit for him, actions that directly contravened her sexual harm prevention order, which explicitly prohibited her from having unsupervised contact with children. Additionally, she became friendly with another male colleague who had children as young as five, further raising concerns about her associations and potential risks to vulnerable children.

Her online activities with Paul Dent, whom she met on an internet dating site, involved conversations that quickly turned sexual, with Dent actively encouraging her to molest young children. The court heard that Dent had a history of sexual offenses and was actively involved in urging Raison to carry out these heinous acts. Judge Martyn Zeidman QC described the offenses as among the 'most horrific,' emphasizing the severity and depravity involved. As a result, Raison was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order designed to protect the public from her potential reoffending.

During her time in prison, Raison was subjected to violence from fellow inmates. In January 2016, while at HMP Holloway, she was attacked by two prisoners, Neah Tuohy, 25, and Emily Bray, 23. The assault involved repeated punches to her face while she was engaged in a puzzle, leaving her with two black eyes and significant swelling. Raison suffered a panic attack and fainted during treatment for her injuries. The attack was reportedly motivated by Tuohy and Bray’s anger over Raison’s previous offenses, with Tuohy, who had a history of assault, claiming her rage was triggered by Raison’s 'horrific' crimes.

Tuohy, who had six prior convictions for assault, admitted to the assault and was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, to run concurrently with her existing 12-year sentence for a separate attack. Bray received a four-month suspended sentence and was ordered to pay £250 in compensation to Raison. The court condemned the violence, emphasizing that such actions are unacceptable and that justice must be upheld even within the prison system.

Throughout her criminal history, Raison’s offenses have been characterized by disturbing sexual abuse and online conspiracy. In 2014, she was convicted of conspiring with Dent to sexually abuse children and to produce indecent images, with evidence including messages and photographs exchanged between her and Dent. The court heard that she sent explicit images of herself touching children to Dent, who actively encouraged her to continue. Despite her claims that her sister had taken the photos, the court found her guilty of serious conspiracy charges. Dent, who also had a prior conviction, expressed remorse and a desire to undergo treatment for sexual offenses.

Raison’s criminal activities have caused significant concern regarding her potential risk to children and the safety of the community. Her repeated breaches of legal orders and her violent treatment in prison highlight the ongoing challenges in managing her case. The court’s sentences reflect the gravity of her offenses and the importance of public protection, with a 20-year sexual harm prevention order imposed to restrict her future conduct and safeguard vulnerable individuals from her actions.